5 reasons you aren’t being followed on Twitter

Everybody has their own rules regarding whom they follow on Twitter. For instance, some people follow as many people as they possibly can because they think they will gain followers. They might, but their scattershot approach probably won’t add any value to their Twitter experience.

Other people do have rules about whom they do or do not follow. Those rules vary, but a few common ones exist. They include:

You don’t have a profile photo. Nobody likes to follow an egg or a Twitter bird. Some people even refuse to follow profiles that use logos or cartoons. In general, it’s best to use a recent photo of yourself. People want to see the person behind the name.

You used a “cutesy” handle. “Honeybuns” or whatever name you think is cute might have been fun when you first joined Twitter and were interacting with only friends. If you intend to interact on Twitter on a more professional level, you need to use a better handle. You could use your name. You could even use your business’ name. If you choose the second option, make sure to include your name in your profile. People need to know it’s you.

You don’t have a bio. If you don’t offer any information in your bio, you may not be followed. If you fill that space with a plethora of hashtags, you may not be followed, either. State what you do as succinctly as possible. Include a quirky fact about yourself if appropriate.

You send spammy direct messages. The quickest way to get yourself unfollowed is to send spammy direct messages or tweets to people who follow you. Even automated direct messages can get you the proverbial boot.

You don’t engage. If you haven’t used Twitter in months, you’re unlikely to be followed. If all you do is retweet articles or share your blog posts, you may not see growth in your number of followers. Twitter is a conversational tool not a megaphone.

Why do you choose to follow or not to follow people on Twitter? What “rules” would you add to the list? Let us know in the comments.